Defending champions Real Madrid will be favourites to go through when they defend a 3-1 Champions League pre-quarterfinal first leg lead in the away match against Italian football club Napoli here on Tuesday.

Zinedine Zidane-coached Real arrives in Italy on the back of a morale boosting 4-1 La Liga win away to Eibar on Saturday in which the coach was able to rest key footballers.

Real Madrid ended Napoli's 18-game unbeaten run to take an important step towards the quarter-finals of the Champions League as they look to defend the title they won last season.

Goals from Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos and Casemiro on Wednesday evening allowed Zinedine Zidane's side to overturn an early opening goal from the visitors and give Madrid a two-goal cushion ahead of the return leg.

Italian football club Napoli have ended weeks of speculation by signing highly-rated Brazilian teenager Leandrinho from Ponte Preta. The Serie A club reportedly beat off interest from Real Madrid and Manchester City to bag the 18-year-old striker.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis confirmed the move with a brief welcome message on Twitter.

Italian Serie A side Napoli on Tuesday announced the signing of striker Leonardo Pavoletti from Genoa. Napoli had reached an agreement with Genoa President Enrico Preziosi in December and confirmed on Tuesday the inclusion of the Italian international, as the winter transfer market officially opened.

Pavoletti, 28, signed for Napoli after scoring 23 goals in 44 games with Genoa and will sport jersey no. 32.

Bayern Munich appear to have stolen a march on rivals Chelsea and Paris St. Germain in the race to sign Napoli defender Faouzi Ghoulam according to reports in Italian website CalcioMercato.com.

The 25 year old left back is believed to be on the wishlist of all three European giants, but Bayern are believed to have made the first move, offering the youngster a 4 year contract worth €3 million a year.